Clinker

What the heck is a "privy mark"?

You know what a mintmark is. A "privy mark" is similar. It is a small mark or design identifying the mint, moneyer, or some other aspect of the coin's reason for being struck. This is especially true of coins minted before 1901. Since 1901 it's main use is a marketing feature.

Some "privy marks" are very hard to distinguish while others are "works of art" (some better than the coin they're struck on).

Here's (what many historians agree) is one of the first coins to carry a "privy mark." (image courtesy CoinArchives)

Sasanian Kings of Persia, Shapur I (240-270), Drachm 4.0g, crowned head of king right, earflaps, reverse fire altar and attendants, "privy mark" is a pellet above left.

http://imagedb/coinarchives.com/img/...7/00806q00.jpg



That's about as simple as it gets. This next one is about as ornate as it gets.
Later I'll show you more of both.

http://www.cruzis-coins.com/Kookas/2000.html


Ah! Those Australian minters!

Here's an Algerian 5 Dinars with 2 privy marks. Read the info and see what/who they represent.

http://www.wbcc.fsnet.co.uk/af-alg.htm



Canada has been producing maple leaf "privy marks" for years, here's a 2001 $20 Gold Maple Leaf w./Viking Longboat on it. Be sure to scroll down so you can see a magnified picture of the "privy mark."

http://www.taxfreegold.co.uk/2001map...tedviking.html



This next example of a "privy mark" may be a nice surprise to you.It is a special trade token. It's issued by and struck for the University of Saint Hildegard. The mint master who produced the middle ages looking token is His Lordship Ian Cnulle, Guildmaster of the Monier's Mint of An Tir. Made in the spring of 1994, it is entirely punchwork and in low relief. Its inscription includes the "V.V." mintmark (for "vicus ventosus" = Latin for "windy town" or "Windwic" - the University of St. Hildegard is located in Klickitat County in south central Washington State, an area known within the SCA as the Shire of Windwic), plus the I-C monogram of Ian Cnulle, who made the dies. The outward orientation of the mint and privy marks indicate that the inscription begins to the left of bottom center.

Photos courtesy of saydo.org:


http://www.saydo.org/pastlane/token10.htm



In 2006 the Isle of MAN contracted with Pobjoy Mint to place a special "privy mark" on a Gold Angel featuring a Christmas theme on its reverse. Courtesy of Pobjoy Mint here's a photo of that coin and the three french hens "privy mark."

http://www.pobjoy.com/ukworld/shopim...l_779x521.jpg/


This United Kingdom Gold 2 Guineas dated 1664 has a decent (for the era) "privy mark. You'll find it on the "exergue" beneath the bust of Charles II on the obverse.


http://imagedb.coinarchives.com/img/...9/00119q00.jpg


Now, as to artistic detail, don't you agree the Titanic "privy mark" on this Canadian $5 silver Maple Leaf is warranted as terrific?


http://lynncoins.com/1998titanicmapleleaf388px.jpg



And how about this Canadian silver $5 Maple Leaf and its year of the pig "privy mark"?


http://image.zenn.net/REPLACE/CLIENT...piglrg0001.JPG


As to how crude some of the Paris Mint's "privy marks" can be look at this example:


http://www.geocities.com/ngazidja/coins/ali5rev.html



Nopw let's look at some Australia silver 2 ounce Kookaburros This is a 2003 Boer War commemorative:


http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=1475



And this is the Korean War Commrm.:


http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=1476



Viet Nam War:


http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=1477



What about WWI and WWII? YES!:


WWI:


http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=1478



WWII:


http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=1479


Did you enjoy this article?

Clinker

coinknight

Fun to know these facts. Good work collecting these facts and images.

Clinker

Thanks for your comment

Clinker

Daggarjon

very cool. alot of the marks are, like you said, neater then the coin

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Clinker

Thanks for the commemt. Do you know Australia's mints use "privy mark's as a marketing tool to raise the price on their NCLT coins?

Clinker

gxseries

Australia has a significant amount of those kookaburras with privy marks - some of them are quite difficult to find such as this: http://www.pandaamerica.com/details....grp=1&categ=19

Makes you really think since when Australia became part of US

http://www.pandaamerica.com/subcateg...categ=19&grp=1

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Clinker

Thanks for the links and the assurance that the Aussie privy mark's are simply a ploy to inflate the prices to coin collectors...

Clinker